EFFECTS OF SOIL FUMIGATION AND LIMING ON YIELD AND NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION OF ALFALFA AND TIMOTHY
A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of liming and fumigation of soil with methyl bromide on the nutrient concentration of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.). The four lime levels used gave soil pH values of 5.1, 5.6, 6.3 and 6.7. Liming had a significant effect on yield and on concentration of all nutrients measured, except Cu. Soil fumigation increased the yield of timothy significantly, but not of alfalfa, and the plant tissue concentrations of P, S, Mo, Mn and Zn in both crops were increased significantly when compared to non-fumigation. A significant interaction was noted among crops, lime levels, and fumigation treatments, in which the alfalfa tissue P and Mn increases with fumigation were much higher at lower soil pH levels than at higher soil pH levels. Tissue K, Fe and B concentrations in timothy and N in timothy and alfalfa decreased significantly with fumigation.